The Vanderfuls are your average American family. Average if your dad goes hunting for rhino or likes to parachute into a volcano.

Tradition. Money. Power. Stocks. Bonds. The Vanderfuls have it all. All except a more rare and valuable commodity: common sense. Actually, the two latest in the long line of Vanderfuls, Abbie (age 8) and Ted (age 10) have lots of sense. Let's hope it's enough to keep the family through to the next generation.

Their father, Theodore Vanderful III (TV III) sees himself as an adventurer and savvy businessman with many worldly experiences that give true insight into human nature. Unfortunately, he inherited all his money and has no clue about human nature or the real world. He is polite and confident, though. Boarding school did teach him that. His view of every situation is correct and he does not even entertain any other opinions, no insult intended, of course. Of course.

His wife, Louise, is his biggest supporter and believes all of his bizarre reasoning. She is an older woman, but wears cloths that she thinks make her look "with it." She thinks she impresses her kids with how hip she is and tries to communicate with them on their level. The both of them are completely oblivious to whatever is really taking place.

Abbie and Ted are smart and clearly see the parents for who and what they really are. They also see the situations for what they really are, but have become used to the insane trouble their parents get them into. The father is constantly forcing his family on these "adventures" so he can show them the REAL world.

Their butler, Billings, is old and wise, and has been in the family for three generations. Theodore Vanderful I, who was a real explorer, hired him. He is very dry and always offers the correct view of the situation, which the TV III never agrees with. Billing replies with things like "quite right, sir" and "of course" when corrected. This character is the one who always winds up saving them. He has unlimited resources that he pulls from a serving tray that he is always carrying. He is sort of a super-hero that gets them out of trouble, but TV III and Louise are never able to witness his amazing talents.